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Cigarette theft suspect pulled from canal

A man accused of stealing cigarettes from area gas stations fled from Summit County sheriff’s deputies and jumped into the Ohio & Erie Canal, where he cried for help, authorities said.

Ahmad Salti, 52, of Rocky River, was rescued from the water and arrested on robbery charges.

Salti is accused of stealing cartons of cigarettes from gas stations in Green and Coventry Township.

On Saturday, deputies said Salti took two cartons of cigarettes from a BP station on South Arlington Road. While driving away, a man tried to intervene by grabbing the steering wheel to Salti’s car, deputies said. The man was dragged a short distance.

Later that morning, deputies found Salti inside his car on East Exchange Street in Akron. Salti then got out of the vehicle and ran toward the canal off River Street. Once he jumped into the water, deputies said Salti began yelling for help.

Salti was pulled from the water and treated by Akron Fire Department paramedics before being taken to a hospital for treatment.